Advice Wanted on equipment purchases.

[OregonRich]

I'm re-posting my question on a new thread to add to it & get more responses. I'm a new diver & I'm looking to buy my own gear. I've narrowed it down to this:

BCD: Seaquest Black Diamond w/ Airsource - I like the fit, one less hose sounds great, and it seems to get good reviews.

Reg: I'm Torn between

Scubapro MK25/x650 - Great reviews on Scubadiving.com
&
Aqualung Legend XL - I like the size & my local dive shop is pushing it.

Dive Computer: Oceanic VT Pro (air integrated w/ transmitter) - Again, Great reviews on Scubadiving.com, a buddy has one & loves it, & I like the idea of one less hose.

My local dive shop likes the Uwatec Smart Com Comsole.

I'm leaning toward the Oceanic, but my concerns are with possible problems with wireless transmission. My local dive shop questions the reliability of these types of units & a different buddy swears it's nuts to dive w/o a guage hooked to the tank...and is solidly against air integrated transmitters.

I'd appreciate your thoughts. My dives will be mostly in colder water (Oregon coast, lakes, & rivers.)

Also, I'm considering buying some of this through Leisurepro online. The savings over buying locally is considerable ($170 for the reg, $161 BCD, and a similar difference for the computer.) Leisurepro says they will match the manufacture's warranty. Again, any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[m3830431]

All the equipment sound good, someone will like it and other will not. My advise is to buy from an authorized dealer many will meet leisurepros price is liesurepro can still get the blackmarket item. liesurepro may have their own warranty but if buying new it is worth a few extra dollars for the factory warranty.

I wouldn't have a problem with mask, fins and snorkel or the like but life dependent equipment is another story.

 

[The Chairman]

Have you tried Larry at ScubaToys? The man is more than fair, and you would be supporting someone who supports the board. On top of that he is a bona fide distributor for ALL of the gear he sells. Check his ad in the upper banner spot rotation.

 

[lord1234]

Yea, give larry a call....also....Dive shop pushes certain brands because of one reason...$$$. Don't let them push you into a decision you don't want to make.

 

[cmalinowski]

Wow, multiple cans of worms opened up in one post: LeisurePro, wireless xmitters, which equipment, scubadiving.com, using LDS as sounding board and then buying elsewhere

You will likely get responses swearing one way or another. Chose whatever you feel comfortable with. I don't see any real bad choices, but I don't know anything either.

I dive with wireless xmitter and have had no problems (knock on wood).

I do think that one of the biggest complaints you will get is going to your LDS, having them answer all of your questions and work with you, and then going elsewhere to purchases your stuff. I am not against purchasing stuff online (most of my stuff was purchased online), but I did not use my LDS resources and then burn them. If you want a good relationship with your LDS, talk to them about prices. If they can't work with you, mention that you can get it online, from authorized dealer (scubatoys) for great price. I'd be willing to pay a little bit more to LDS since they are local and can help you get started in the scuba world.

Just my thoughts.

 

[The Chairman]

cmalinowski makes a good point. If I am sizing gear, using an LDS' stock, you can BET that I am going to be buying from them. That's only fair. If I am gathering info from multiple sources (such as www.ScubaBoard.com) then I do not feel as "tied" into the LDS. Especially, if I find their opinions overly biased by what they sell.

However, I feel no shame asking users to patronize those who support our fair Board. They demonstrate a commitment to keeping us alive and able to talk about all things diving, and I appreciate that.

 

[mjh]

Regarding the Hoseless system. I had a Oceanic hoseless system it worked fine until I got into photography. The strobes seem to interupt the signal and I started having problems. Oceanic was great sent me new/refurb comps but problem did not go away. We have gone to the hosed air integrated system and no problems at all.

 

[Wayward Son]

Oceanic is one company that has extended its sales to allow online sales. But only through authorized dealers. Buy from LP, no warranty. Buy from an authorized online dealer & you have a warranty.

FWIW, I personally would NOT buy expensive electronic such as a dive computer without an actual manufacturers warranty. I've heard too many horror stories where people had problems, LP or whatever gray market dealer they bought it from left them hanging & they ended up paying full boat for repairs/relacements.

I think Larry at scubatoys is an authorized Oceanic dealer, & folks here have had nothing but good to say about him, so I'd say you should at least inquire with him.

 

[crlavoie]

I'm re-posting my question on a new thread to add to it & get more responses. I'm a new diver & I'm looking to buy my own gear. I've narrowed it down to this:

BCD: Seaquest Black Diamond w/ Airsource - I like the fit, one less hose sounds great, and it seems to get good reviews.

Reg: I'm Torn between

Scubapro MK25/x650 - Great reviews on Scubadiving.com
&
Aqualung Legend XL - I like the size & my local dive shop is pushing it.

I have the Legend LX and my Bro has the Scuba Pro MK 25 / x650. Both are great regs but the Titan was better for me because of the Comfo-Bite Mouth Piece. I have pretty bad TMJ and that MP makes it effortless to hold. You could throw that MP on the Scuba Pro but it would cost a couple of $$$. The other thing is the the Legend LX has a heat exchanger and I don't think the Scubapro has it. You might get slightly better cold water performance out of the Titan.
*** I am not implying that the legend is a dedicated Cold Water Reg. That's a whole other issue.

 

[Dave in PA]

Can o' worms is right!

I haven't used the SeaQuest BC, so I don't know....

I have the SP Mk25/X600 regs, about 40 dives on them, works great coldest water so far about 46* F. No problems in any position, even messing around upside down.

AL Legend is one of the regs used in my LDS rental fleet. no problems reported with it.

I have a VT Pro that works fine. I also have a Uwatec Smart Tec. I like the programming features better in the Uwatec than the VT Pro.

I would suggest checking for additional discounts/rebates/etc from the manufacturers on package deals. I know ScubaPro is doing something through the end of July to pay for a class, Aqualung might have something, too. Don't automatically rule out your LDS when putting a package together.